Brown, Diane Marie. Black Candle Women. 368p. Graydon House. Feb. 2023. Tr $28.99. ISBN 9781525899911.
In the decades before the novel’s present, Augusta Montrose was blessed with a gift from her ancestor, the loa Lanora; recognizing this, the powerful Bela Nova began training her in the religion of Voodoo and the practice of hoodoo magic. But when ­Augusta ran off with Bela Nova’s son, Bela Nova cursed the Montrose family: the men they love will die. Years later, as her daughter, Madelyn, struggles with addiction, ­Augusta takes her granddaughters Victoria and Willow and moves to California. Now the women, including Victoria’s daughter, Nickie, cohabitate in an uneasy alliance. Victoria uses Lanora’s gift as a therapist; ­Willow creates spells and potions. When Nickie invites a boy over for her birthday dinner, the women find themselves trying to explain their family curse to a teenager ignorant of their history and gifts. Augusta, left unable to speak after a stroke, struggles to communicate with her family the events that led to the curse. Madelyn joins the household, adding to the tension as she tries to redeem herself. The family fractures, culminating in Nickie running away and the women returning to New Orleans to confront ­Augusta’s past so they can move forward. Chapters provide alternating points of view, and the lack of Madelyn’s voice reinforces her outsider status. Augusta’s narrative focuses on the past, illustrating the ripple effect of her actions. A Spotify playlist is provided by the author. VERDICT Generations of women must confront their fears, resolve their issues, and rebuild their relationships. Good general purchase.–Tamara Saarinen

Chakraborty, Shannon. The ­Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. 496p. Harper ­Voyager. Feb. 2023. Tr $32. ISBN 9780062963505.
After years of domestic life, former pirate Amina Al-Sirafi makes an unforgettable return to the high seas in this swashbuckling fantasy adventure set on the Indian Ocean. Framed as a tale spun by the ­storied nakhuda (captain) to a scribe named Jamal, the narrative delightfully employs a conspiratorial air to keep the plot moving at a breakneck pace. When the wealthy mother of one of Amina’s former crew members arrives at her door, begging (and then threatening) Amina to help discreetly return her missing granddaughter, Amina realizes that for as much as she does not want to leave her own mother and young daughter, Marjana, at home, the call to adventure is more tempting than she’d like to admit. Amina reassembles her motley old crew, including paranoid Mistress of Poisons Dalila and goodhearted first-mate Tinbu, then sets off on a mission that is much more than she bargained for, including magic-wielding adversaries, powerful artifacts, fearsome sea monsters, and former lovers. Amina is Muslim, and her crew represents a diverse mix of religions and identities. Prior knowledge of Chakraborty’s “Daevabad” trilogy is not necessary to enjoy this novel, though a familiar face hints that this first in a new series is set in the same rich world. Swear words befitting a pirate captain, scenes of gore, and descriptions of off-page sex scenes are included. VERDICT Mature teens who can’t get enough of Leigh Bardugo and V.E. Schwab will devour this fast-paced ­fantasy adventure and will ­eagerly await the next installments.–­Andrew Eliopulos

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Chokshi, Roshani. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. 304p. William Morrow. Feb. 2023. Tr $30. ISBN 9780063206502.
This novel begins with the wealthy and ­famous recluse Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada’s husband narrating as he meets and falls in love with her. It is almost a fairy tale of love at first sight, but from the beginning they keep secrets from each other. Over time he learns about Indigo and her childhood, while their own tangled web of secrets grows. Then Indigo’s best friend, Azure, tells of their wonderful yet obsessive friendship, and the magical world Indigo created for them. Fairy tales are infused into every aspect of the story, but slowly shift from ­Disney fantasy to Brothers Grimm mash-ups. Elements of “Snow White” dominate at first, like the girls’ pale skin and long silky black hair, so alike they are often mistaken for each other. But then notes of “Bluebeard” rise and forbidden rooms, forbidden memories, and forbidden futures seep in to build the tension to a breaking point. This twist on a contemporary fairy tale is a page-turner and culminates in a surprise ending. VERDICT A gripping addition to the reimagined fairy-tale genre; give this to fans of ­Melissa Bashardoust’s Girls Made of Snow and Glass, Sarah J. Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, and Margaret Owen’s Little Thieves.–Gretchen Crowley

Makkai, Rebecca. I Have Some Questions for You. 448p. Viking. Feb. 2023. Tr $28. ISBN 9780593490143.
Bodie Caine, a successful podcaster, returns to the boarding school she attended to teach a mini-semester class on podcasting. This provides her with the opportunity to encourage her students to investigate the murder of her classmate Thalia Keith. A Black staff member, Omar Evans, was ­convicted of her murder, but Bodie believes it was a wrongful conviction, and the killer is a teacher who may have been grooming Thalia. Her actions set into motion an investigation that raises more questions and reveals some truths. The narrative moves back and forth between Bodie when she was a student and current events, starkly illustrating the casual sexual harassment and assault of female students by their male classmates that was brushed off as “boys will be boys.” Omar is granted a hearing, the result of new information uncovered by Bodie’s student ­podcasters, bringing former classmates back to town. These adults now find themselves facing the dark parts of their teen past. Throughout the narrative are brief ­montages of women killed by violence: “Wasn’t it the one where she was stabbed?—no. The one where she got in a cab with–different girl. The one where she went to the frat party, the one where he used a stick, the one where he used a hammer....” These run like a lament. Bodie is introspective and manipulative and writes her story directed at the teacher Thalia was involved with. The ending is realistic and not what Bodie hoped for, but she does find some closure. VERDICT A page-turning examination of power, sex, and murder as characters revisit their pasts with a new perspective.–Tamara Saarinen

Penner, Sarah. The London Séance Society. 352p. Harlequin/Park Row. Mar. 2023. Tr $30. ISBN 9780778387114.
In 1873, 20-year-old Evie Wickes, a student of the medium Madame Vaudeline D’Allaire, who specializes in contacting those who are victims of murder to help families solve the mystery, is murdered on All Hallow’s Eve. Her older sister, Lenna, who is 23, becomes an intern with Vaudeline in order to solve the mystery of her sister’s murder. This Gothic Victorian tale begins by drawing the reader into an interrupted séance, and then alternates perspectives between Lenna and Mr. Morley, vice president of the London Séance Society’s Department of Spiritualism. Initially the pacing of the story feels slow, but it eventually escalates to an anticipated and satisfying ending. Penner’s eerie setting mixed with dark energy adds to the unfolding of the mystery in historic London. The budding romance between Lenna and Madame is behind closed doors, but demonstrates that same-sex relationships did exist during the time period, even though people showed a great deal of sexual restraint during the Victorian age. The novel is well-researched and readers will learn plenty about séances and Victorian funeral traditions. The book takes place during a time when women were not viewed as intellectuals, but were often respected as mediums and experts of the supernatural. Characters reflect the time period and are reserved and cue as white. VERDICT Mature teens will enjoy the mystery and learn plenty about the occult and time period.–Karen Alexander

Wees, Alyssa. Nocturne. 240p. Ballantine/Del Rey. Feb. 2023. Tr $27. ISBN 9780593357477.
Grace Dragotta is delighted to be promoted to prima ballerina in her 1938 ­Chicago company. An orphan, she views her ballet friends as family, and believes her hard work has rescued her from the days when she played the violin on the street busking for money. The first third of the novel will especially appeal to those who enjoy reading about the world of ballet. When a mysterious patron offers to generously fund the company, all are overjoyed, until Grace discovers that the patron may have played a role in her ascent, and is whisked off to live in his magical mansion in Hyde Park, where “Beauty and the Beast” elements enter the fantastical plot. The fantasy grows wilder as Grace copes with magical creatures and explores the afterlife with her patron, and the ballet scenes are gradually less important as the fairy tale takes over. The conclusion is a surprising yet fitting ending for an imaginative tale. VERDICT Recommended for teens who love dance and fantasy.–Karlan Sick

Eismann, Sonja, Maya Schöningh & Ingo Schöningh, eds. Movements and ­Moments. ­illus. by various. 264p. Drawn & ­Quarterly. Nov. 2022. Tr $29.95. ISBN 9781770465619.
An anthology of eight graphic novel–style short stories selected from an open submission call put out by the Goethe-Institut in Jakarta. The herstories share a common theme of Indigenous women of the world who fight for their rights amid capitalism, and to keep their connections to the land. In “Let the Rivers Flow Free,” villagers in the Philippines fight to protect their sacred river when a dam is being built; Bolivian women organize to create a trade union in unlikely circumstances in “The Anarchist Cholas.” The artwork in each entry is as different and painstakingly beautiful as each woman’s struggle. Curricular tie-ins include colonization, feminism, and capitalism. VERDICT This anthology is an excellent addition to middle and high school libraries looking to bolster their collection of women warriors.–Amy Zembroski

Mohamed, Deena. Shubeik Lubeik.­ illus. by Deena Mohamed. 528p. Pantheon. Jan. 2023. Tr $35. ISBN 9781524748418.
At an unassuming street stall in Egypt, store owner Shokry has stocked something special: three first-class wishes. The book unfolds across three stories, each revolving around how one of the wishes is bought and used. In a world of commodified and potency-graded wishes, issues of class and privilege take on imaginative, yet grounded, stakes. Aziza’s symbolic wish for her late husband Abdo is buried under government regulation and incarceration. Nour, a college student living with depression, grapples with deserving a wish they bought with their parents’ money. The third story is a showstopper that shines a new light on a recurring character and will stun readers before they race to share with the nearest person. Each segment uses the fantastical premise to examine human relationships and the choices that shape our lives. Every chapter has its own visual flair belonging to its star characters while sharing a consistent Egyptian setting and cast, including Arabic billboards and expressions defined (sometimes humorously) in the margins. Thoughtful and hilarious infographics deepen the history of this alternate world. Creative paneling, lettering, and symbolism ensure readers will tirelessly explore this book’s dense rewards. Content includes swearing, smoking, and drug references. VERDICT Your wish for a successful mixture of high concept fantasy, biting humor, and powerful moral struggles is granted.–Thomas Maluck

Wimberly, Ronald. Now Let Me Fly: A Portrait of Eugene Bullard. illus. by Brahm Revel. 336p. First Second. Jan. 2023. Tr $29.99. ISBN 9781626728523.
This narrative nonfiction account of the first Black American military pilot to fly in combat opens with a businessman working in Rockefeller Center being trapped in an elevator with operator Eugene Bullard. He talks with Bullard and is amazed and skeptical to learn Bullard was a fighter pilot in France. Once Bullard shows his medal, the man wants to hear his story. Bullard’s life begins in Georgia, and readers witness the moment of his father fleeing men who want to lynch him, then follow as Bullard leaves home in search of a place free of prejudice. Hearing life might be better for him in Europe, he stows away on a freighter. In England, Bullard performs vaudeville and boxes for a living, but still experiences discrimination. A trip to Paris gives Bullard the world he is seeking—a place of equality and respect—and he settles there as WWI breaks out. He joins the French Foreign Legion, is wounded at the Front, and honored for his courage. Despite his injury, Bullard applies to be a gunner on a plane, but is recruited to train as a pilot instead. Bullard continues his military career in the air and survives intense air battles. The narrative and visuals do not shy away from the violence of war or the racism Bullard experienced. The black, white, and sepia-toned illustrations create the feel of faded, old photos. A bibliography and photo of Bullard are included. VERDICT Bullard’s life was full of danger, adventure, and opportunities he created, and this fascinating story has very broad appeal. A great first purchase for all libraries.–Tamara Saarinen

Chin, Ava. Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming. 400p. Penguin Pr. Apr. 2023. Tr $29. ISBN 9780525557371.
A wonderful snapshot of a history at once unique to Chin and also likely representative of so many families who made ­the United States their home through trials and tribulations. Though this nonfiction piece takes on a memoir vibe, it is very much a family history that beautifully brings together Chin’s family members from similar geographic origins to an even more similar geographic present. Chin tells the tale of her family’s journey from Guangdong Province, China, to Mott Street, New York City, in four chronologically grouped parts that include photos of her family and documents sprinkled throughout. Though the content of Chin’s family history is not always easy to reckon with, her writing can transport readers in ways not common for nonfiction books. Complete with chapter-by-chapter bibliography and researcher memos, this title is recommended for high school collections that are looking to amplify their American history collections, as well as those that have readers interested in family history as it relates to the American immigrant experience. An authentic history of the Chinese Exclusion Act and historical practices of foot binding are also included. VERDICT Chin’s thoughtful research and careful diction renders a wonderful window into her family and likely a mirror for many others.–Samantha Hull